Friday, October 30, 2015

This weekend is going to be a long one. A few things going on that require my attention to some degree. It's not a great time to be sick, but that I am. It's because I associate with germy people and don't wear a jacket when it's cold. Ever.

An Uncle died during the week and the family are traveling to Wellington to the funeral tomorrow. My Mum near begged my to go, but I didn't want to go. They may not be home in time for the Primary Halloween trunk or treat, don't want to go to that either. I'll be glad when that's over with. Sunday morning rugby. It's the last one guys so if you haven't booked it, book it. Naturally I'm Team All Blacks and it's Richie's last game as a professional rugby player before his retirement (that he hasn't officially announced yet). There will be tears ... mostly in Australia.

This part of the post is where I vent about my church calling.
I've been in the primary for far too long. FAR. TOO. LONG.
Let's see ... at 18 I was called as Stake Primary Secretary. When I got married I was called as Primary Pianist. That lasted 10 years. When we moved home I was called as Primary Pianist. In the last 6 years they've added onto that calling Second Counselor to the primary and primary music director.
I need out ASAPbecause tonight, I officially hate my calling.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Monday, October 26, 2015

A family we spent a few Thanksgivings with in the US had a tradition of inviting two or three families to celebrate with them every year. I liked the tradition and bought it with me when we moved home.

I can't remember who we celebrated with in 2010, which is when we began our NZ Thanksgiving, but Paella was had. In my head it was Nina and Mitchy I invited, but I'm not entirely sure that's correct.
2011 was the biggest one we had and I invited several families at random.
Larry gapped it on us in 2012 and instead of Thanksgiving, we had a hākari in it's place. Not my worst Thanksgiving to be honest. I was thankful his health issues were over and he was at peace.
Thanksgiving merged with Larry's day of death in 2013. Larell called it "The Remembering Uncle Larry Thanksgiving". It worked. Because of in-laws, Sister and Brother 3 alternate where they spend Christmas each year, so Thanksgiving and remembering Larry also became an early Christmas with the family members who will be having Christmas away that year.
Last year I was in a bad mood and thought 'stuff everyone' and much to my Mums dismay, who showed me her middle finger the day before when I told her operation thanksgiving 2014 is a no go, we had it at home and invited just one person.
Thanksgiving 2015 is nearing. With coercion from my Mum, it will go ahead this year. I've been mulling over families/people in my head who I'd like to invite, and the list is so small I could invite all of them .. and count them on three fingers.

Just need to get over Halloween, a few important temple trips next month and then Thanksgiving will be here.

Rugby:
I knew from the Pool games that the last two standing would be Australia and New Zealand. Australia won The Rugby Championship this year and New Zealand won the Bledisloe Cup. It's going to be a goody.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Took Nessa out for a late birthday lunch yesterday to The Station in Napier.
Way too much food.
Primary is having a trunk or treat at our chapel on Saturday. Third primary activity for the year. Activity-wise, Ward Primary 3 - Ward 0. My Mum is going all out for the trunk or treat thing. She overwhelms me coming up with new ideas or additions. She's giving me a headache about it. The polystyrene grave. We thought of being hilarious and putting a living persons name on the grave, but thought that might offend.
The giganto witches hat.
The Saudi's watching the semi-finals this morning.
In style!
Hubba watching the semi's this morning.
No loyalty.
How Fiorenza watched the game this morning! (NZT)
80,000 people.
That's more than the population of Hastings.
The game was a shambles, especially the first half. By half time I willed South Africa to win. It was the last 10 minutes that got my heart racing. Carter was trying to set himself up for a drop kick, but wasn't comfortable and instead passed it to SBW who offloaded nicely to Read who was tackled and knocked the ball on. South Africa start again under the posts and after mucho defense from The All Blacks, the ball is knocked on and NZ in the finals.
Colossal power from South Africa. Epic scrums and breakdowns, but power was the only thing they bought to the game and NZ won on power and skill. Looking forward to tomorrow mornings game Australia vs Argentina. I would love for Argentina to take Australia down.Vámonos Argentina!

Thursday, October 22, 2015

This assignment was pretty much what it says, but since I'm not down for shooting any naked body I went a different route.

Jamie Oliver got his name, 'The Naked Chef', because he stripped cooking down to the basics so anyone could do it. I watched an episode once where he made a St Clements posset, which is basically a lemon posset, which is dumbed down again to a lemon custard pretty much and that's about the only naked thing about this assignment and the best anyone is going to get because flying to London to get a naked shot of Richie McCaw is just not in the cards .. because I hate flying.

Between here and my Parentals place, the lemon trees are riddled with the fruit. There's a community dinner next month sometime. A mix and mingle with the local farmers and business owners of sorts and the planners and committee require a taste test of the potential menu items. My Mum ropes me into this stuff without warning.

Compadres, lemon posset.
600ml cream (double prefered)
200g caster sugar
75mls lemon juice
zest from two lemons
Add sugar and cream together in a pot.
Slow stir till it simmers then let that ish boil for 30 seconds.
Remove from heat and stir in the juice and zest.
Five minutes of your time needs 6 hours to chill, at least.
My Mum said it was suggested in the committee meeting that we use ingredients from the area. We'd have crayfish, eel and watercress abundant in the creek if the same guys they're entertaining stopped restricting us from the water required for life and survival of the aforementioned.
That's all I have to say about that.
Promise I didn't put cyanide in it.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

As much as I wanted to be the crazy person on the sideline yelling orders to the kids to play the game properly, I know she would have lost her mojo especially since some of the parents were sighing when their kids weren't following their orders. I stood there with my phone listening to the crazies around me. If your kid has to look up at you for your order every time they get the ball, they're never going to learn the sport. It's a situation of too many Chiefs. There is ONE coach. However ... everyone is a Chief in Ruralville and that crap can't be helped so it must be endured.

Hubs was excited, willing and ready. Jeston has taught her well.

Ed Sheeran needs to stop thinking out loud and think a little harder because he's obviously never heard of cataracts.